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Monday, April 13, 2015

Back Home and Happy!

Whew! It was quite a drive back home from New Hampshire to North Carolina. Josh and I split it up by driving 10 hours Sunday and 5 hours this morning. I'm so so so happy to be home!

Yeah, I was looking pretty ratty last night. I think I probably look worse right now. Thankfully I'm not feeling selfie-lishous at the moment. It's been a long day of unpacking, reorganizing, and really quickly getting back on ball with everything left in limbo while we were teaching at MQX East.

One big thing - TAXES. Blah! Thankfully my accountant and bookkeeper have been on top of it and all we have to do is go sign the forms so they can be submitted.

Another giant annoyance has been my credit card. They decided to update it to a new version with a special security feature. That's really wonderful, but the downside is both the expiration and security key needed to be changed for every account this card is used on.

This might not sound like a big deal, but I have many automatic subscriptions to things like Google storage, Vimeo, and my newsletter program all bill me automatically on this card so each account had to be individually changed to the new numbers. Uggh!

Yes, I'm complaining because this transition is a bit hectic, but ultimately it's totally worth it. MQX was honestly the best show I've ever attended and the most fun I've ever had teaching! I had three full classes of awesome, creative quilters and met many women who I've only known previously by comments and pretty photos on Facebook.

It's so awesome to meet quilters in person and finally put the name and face together, though sometimes that's hard to do when your profile pic is your dog (talking about you Linda Stevens!)

Winning Teacher of the Year still makes me feel like crying with gratitude. I've been trying hard to put it into words and the simplest way to say it is I never expected my online teaching to be valued this way - essentially equal to, or better than, in-person teaching.

I don't teach in person much because my focus is online education and for the longest time I've felt like an outsider. I'm the weird girl who prefers YouTube to Paducah. I'd much rather shoot a video and share what I'm working on than pack up my bags and leave my family for a weekend.

I guess this proves that there is room for all of us - online and in-person teachers. Just like there's plenty of room for hand, machine, and longarm quilters. I'm always reminding my students not to set too small a definition of quilting, but I need an occasional reminder myself!

I'm so happy I went to MQX East and definitely plan to return, and I'm also so happy to be home and cooking dinner with Josh and getting big hugs from James.

6 comments:

Glad you are home safe and sound! Love your post...guess we all deal with similar every day tasks and annoyances! Thank you so much for making that trip :) Looking forward to the next time you teach at MQX East! I cannot even express how much I confidence I gained and what a fun teacher you are! Thanks for all you hard work...and I just bought the Dancing Butterfly pattern so here's to another adventure!!

There's no place like home!!!! And, although I would rather be "live" than do a video, I find it very difficult to leave my cozy "nest" for very long so I totally understand! You have worked hard in this art and are well deserving of the recognition by your peers....and all those you have guided in this awesome journey/adventure (myself among them!!). Hugs..........

I enjoy staying home and find sewing is a solitary hobby. It's fun to meet up with other quilters but home is the best place to be. I'm glad you ventured to Manchester. It's a quick drive for me but so much further for you! Thanks for helping me with my quilting. I already see an improvement. Hope to take more of your classes in the future! Until then, You Tube is fine!!

Congratulations!! Such an honor and you so deserved it!! Thank you for all your instructions. I have not completed the BBQA which I started early last year, but I am getting there. Thanks again for all you (and Josh too) have taught me over the past year. Keep up the good work. CONGRATS!!

Dear Leah, I will always treasure your online teaching through YouTube videos. Without that I would have never become well versed with free motion quilting. Thank you millons billions of times :). I'm bummed now that I missed visiting you at MQX. I have been so busy with my new job that it didn't strike me once that MQX was being held in New Hamshire. I will like 40-50miles from the show place. I wish I was able to meet you in person. Hopefully the next time you're here :). Take care!Quilty hugs!Malini

Leah, congratulations! I too am a home buddy but years of travel for a previous job means that now and again a long weekend away doesn't bother me anymore. Great blog post and I honestly almost didn't recognize myself in the picture of the class! I am having a great time focusing and practicing my FMQ. SLOWED my speed down...THANKS FOR THE TIP! I am also keeping a journal of my progress on my blog.

A Little Advice from Leah:

Stop stressing about perfection. Perfection does not exist past 25 inches! Actually, make that 5 inches.

Don't be afraid of your tension dial - it was put there for a reason.

Quilt because it makes you happy, not because you need to "finish this damn quilt!"

If you've never quilted before and are waiting for that perfect day when the kids are grown or you're retired, STOP WAITING! Today is the day, now is the time, get off your butt and do it!

Eat, Quilt, Sleep, Repeat.

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